Borrowing a line from the Hollywood film The Gambler, “screw you” reflects Trump’s America first agenda.

His Commerce Department unjustifiably imposed restrictions on dozens of Chinese private and state-run companies, falsely claiming they threaten US national security, preventing them from buying certain technologically sophisticated products controlled under US Export Administration Regulations, yet freely sold to EU, Israel and other countries.

It’s part of the Trump regime’s plan to try undermining Beijing’s “Made in China 2025” strategy.

On Wednesday, the Trump regime threatened to increase tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports from 10 – 25% in response to Beijing refusing to bend to Washington’s will on trade, along with not being subservient to its hegemonic aims.

The comment period on proposed new tariffs was extended to September 5. Beijing warned it will retaliate hard to hostile Trump regime trade tactics.

China’s Global Times said “Trump wants to establish his ‘America first’ policy, and the trade war is a head-on blow to the entire world,” adding:

His regime is muscle-flexing to “force China to be a US economic vassal just like Japan when it accepted the Plaza Accord.”

According to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Trump “feels that it’s potentially time to put more pressure on” China, despite risking a full-blown trade war, harming both countries and the world economy.

The US wants Beijing prevented from becoming an economic powerhouse, especially in sophisticated technological areas, able to challenge and perhaps surpass America’s prominence.

That and US imperial objectives are what the Trump regime’s trade hostility toward China is all about, reflecting his “screw you” America first agenda.

Stephen Lendman was born in 1934 in Boston, MA. In 1956, he received a BA from Harvard University. Two years of US Army service followed, then an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. After working seven years as a marketing research analyst, he joined the Lendman Group family business in 1967. He remained there until retiring at year end 1999. Writing on major world and national issues began in summer 2005. In early 2007, radio hosting followed. Lendman now hosts the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network three times weekly. Distinguished guests are featured. Listen live or archived. Major world and national issues are discussed. Lendman is a 2008 Project Censored winner and 2011 Mexican Journalists Club international journalism award recipient.

About Stephen

Stephen Lendman was born in 1934 in Boston, MA. In 1956, he received a BA from Harvard University. Two years of US Army service followed, then an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. After working seven years as a marketing research analyst, he joined the Lendman Group family business in 1967.